From the saddle to the judge's booth, Joe Dotoli has an extensive history in the Hunter/Jumper sport. He has presided over show rings across the country; has had his hands in the makings of events and venues such as the New England Equitation Championships, HITS and Ox Ridge Hunt Club; and along with his wife Fran, is the trainer behind the beginnings of Olympic gold medalist Peter Wylde. Joe also has a strong passion for safety as chair of USHJA's Safety Committee. In the early 2000s, he spearheaded the rule that requires riders to wear helmets on showgrounds and recently led the charge to raise funds for the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab's testing. With the first round of testing done, Joe has his sights set on testing the newest form of safety equipment: air vests.

We caught Joe after a day of judging in Ocala to discuss his impact on the sport and the future of rider safety. Tune in and read more from Joe about the importance of helmets in the March 2023 issue of In Stride at ushja.org/instride.